Colonial School District preps for layoffs if measure fails

Colonial School District officials are alerting staffers who could be laid off if voters reject a proposed tax increase in June.

The administration handed out letters Wednesday to 72 staffers - including 58 teachers - who might be affected if voters don't approve a June 4 referendum. Officials say athletics and extracurricular activities would also have to be scaled back.

The school board approved a plan Tuesday to raise $9.6 million to cover personnel costs by increasing taxes to 35 cents per $100 of assessed property value, boosting the average taxpayer's bill by $197 a year. Voters rejected a larger hike in February.

Even with the increase, the district would still have to cut as many as 25 jobs.